CORPORATE INVESTMENT & RISK CONSULTANTS (PTY) LTD
Investments in Pretoria

CIRC is the provider of a one-stop service for all needs 'workmen's compensation' to employers as well as various aspects of company registrations. With over 10 years experience in the industry, excellent administration management, uniquely developed relationships and a wide spread reputation we are the best all-round package to remedy the unceasing frustration and difficulty around workmen's compensation matters. The quality of CIRC’s services as well as the need therefore has resulted in a client base of more than 500 employers. The compensation Fund is the governmental department that enforces the Compensation for Occupational Injury and Disease Act (formally known as Workers Compensation Act) or abbreviated to COID Act. The first Workers Compensation Act was introduced in 1914, which at first was considered fairly inefficient partly due to lack of employer’s cooperation to comply but was later adapted and expanded on to cover workplace diseases as well. The COID act was implemented in 1993 with a much broader spectrum of injury and disease coverage. The act has proven to be very comprehensive being beneficial to both employee and employer simultaneously not ignoring the obligations of either party with regards to compensation. For many years workmen’s compensation was never taken seriously, with exception to those employers who have a high number of injuries occurring annually such as employers in the construction industry or metal work, and in most cases ignored and neglected by employers. Because it resulted in an additional cost to the employer, if they could avoid having to register and pay annual assessments, they would have. This was the case for many employers until the minister of labour in conjunction with other departments announced that as an additional requirement to apply for a tender, employers must have a Letter of Good Standing from the compensation fund (Only issued when an employer is 100% compliant with COIDA). This created a massive increase in the number of registrations at the compensation fund forcing many employees previously attempting to avoid workmen’s compensation to now comply with the act and insure their employees against injury. Although the system and processes relating to workmen’s compensation is highly complicated, the system has worked efficiently up until now. In 2011 a new IT system was introduced and implemented in the offices of the compensation commissioner, the SAP system. This facility was created so that claims as well as employer assessments and medical accoun ts can be submitted online. This has proven to be extremely convenient and successful, saving a lot of time and paperwork for all parties concerned. These online facilities have been developed, and are still being improved, to create convenience for workmen’s compensation clients and are functional in providing convenient service. The most recent development is the introduction of the Rand Mutual system, a new IT system that the Compensation Fund offices have now implemented to attempt to catch up years of backlog. This has caused new protocols for the online system as well as significant process adaptions that have been introduced to accommodate the new system. All employers and employees must be aware of the necessary process changes. The public inquiries department at the offices of the Workmen’s Compensation Commissioner works with a ticket system. After anyone from the public has registered at the front desk, where an ID or driver’s license is required, they must proceed to the waiting area where they will be asked about their query and given a ticket number in a queue for their relevant query. Due to such a large number of letters being received each day by the Compensation Commissioner, we have found in our experience that to assure your query is addressed the proof of submission is of vital importance. Please be aware the public inquiries department can take up to 3 hours to provide assistance to you. Our organisation has adapted to every change within and out the sphere of Workmen’s Compensation obligations and legalities to keep our clients compliant and assuring that workmen’s compensation can, through our expertise, remain hassle free.